Child{40 s plush figure headboard

ABSTRACT

A headboard for a child or youth bed incorporating an integral plush figure in the form of an animal or the like. The projections of the figure portion of the headborad such as the head and ears, are flexibly and resiliently mounted to the solid portion of the headboard to prevent damage to the headboard or injury to a child as a result of rough handling or intentional attempts of destruction by a child.

I United States Patent 1 1 r l 11 11 3 ,736,603

Rothman 1 11 June 5, 1973 |54| CHlLD'S PLUSH FIGURE HEADBOARD 2,961,668 11/1960 Hayes ..46/l l6 ux [76] Inventor: Lillian Rothman, 7002 Forbes Aveflue, van Nuys, Calif; 9 I406 Primary Examiner-James C. Mltchell Art n Ger 1d L. P 1221 Filed: Mar. 17,1972 ey a me [21] Appl. N0.: 235,557 [57] ABSTRACT A headboard for a child or youth bed incorporating an [52] US. Cl ..5/3l7 R, 5/280, 46/1 16 integral plush figure in the form of an animal or the [51 lift. Cl ..A47C 21/00 lik The projections of the figure portion of the head- [58] Field oi Search ..5/93 R, 280, 281, borad such as the head and ears, are fl ibl and 5/317 339; 46/11 151 resiliently mounted to the solid portion of the head I board to prevent damage to the headboard or injury to [56] References cued a child as a result of rough handling or intentional at- UNITED STATES PATENTS tempts of destruction by a child.

2,641,779 6/1'953 Gill ..5/317 R 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I I SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a general aimof the present invention to provide a new and improved headboard for a childs bed which incorporates an integral plush or soft figure toy into the design of the headboard thereby providing both a decorative furnishing for a child's room and also a companion for the child when the child is taking its nap or put to bed for the night. A related object of the invention is to provide an improved headboard of the aforestated type wherein the integral figure portion of the headboard is mounted or attached tothe remainder of the headboard in a flexible or resilient manner whereby if the figure portion is struck or forcibly deflected from its normal position, it will readily return to its normal position and further avoid injuring a child who happens to strike the figure portion.

It is another object of the invention to provide a childs headboard incorporating an integral plush figure which can be readily and ecconomically provided in a plurality of models or versions while still utilizing a substantial portion of common parts.

While the present invention is concerned with providing a decorative and safe childs headboard which the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary headboard,

, generally indicated at 10, is illustrated, the headboard further provides play and amusement value, it is nevertheless, an object of the invention to provide an im proved headboard of a rugged and durable construction which will withstand a substantial amount of rough handling which often occurs with furniture utilized by growing children.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above stated and other objects and advantages of the instant invention will readily appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view, of an exemplary childs headboard embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the headboard depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary rear view of the headboard shown in FIG. 1, taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

-While the present invention is susceptible of various modifications, forms and alternative constructions and configurations, the illustrative embodiments shown in the drawings will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms .disclosed, but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternative constructions falling within including a pair of spaced legs 12 provided with holes 12a for attaching same to the rails of a conventional bed depicted in dotted lines and generally indicated at 11, and a main section of the headboard 13 which bridges the two spaced legs 12.

In accordance with one of the important aspects of the present invention, a figure generally indicated at 14 is provided as an integral part of the main section or portion of the headboard 13 which as here shown, includes a whimsical face 15 with ears extending therefrom.

Turning next to FIGS. 2 and 3, the main portion 13 of the headboard is shown to comprise a rigid board member 17 such as plywood, fiberboard, pressboard or the like which is padded with a natural or synthetic padding material 19 generally conforming to the same shape as the board 17 and the board 17 and padding 19 are covered by a sheet of outer material 20 which in turn is provided with additional length and width 21 so as to be able to be folded over the board 17 and fastened to the rearward portion thereof by a conventional fastening means such as staples 22. With particular referenceto FIG. 2, the legs 12 are shown to be attached to the board 17 by a plurality of screws 18 however, it IS pointed out that any one or more of conventional attachment arrangements could be utilized such as glue, angle brackets or longitudinal grooves in the legs to receive the board 17 so as to impart additional strength and rigidity to the overall headboard.

In carrying out the present invention, provision is made to attach the figure portion 14 of the headboard as an integral portion of the main section of the headboard ,13 in a manner so as to enable the figure portion 14 to be flexible and resilient so as to enable the FIG. 14 to be deflected when subjected to a blow or force without breaking or injuring a child and yet maintain its predetermined position and appearance. This is accomplished by forming the figure portion 14 of the headboard as a cover 24 which is compactly filled with a resilient form 23 made from materials such as urethane foam, sponge or the like and then fastening the bottom portion of the cover 24 to the main section of the headboard in a position and manner as collectively depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lower portion of the cover 24 is pulled taut and fastened to the main section of the headboard 13 in a conventional fastening manner such as with staples 26. Accordingly, the overall FIG. 14 will then be securely maintained in its predetermined'location on the main section 13 of the headboard and yet portion 14 and main section of the headboard 13 is provided as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

While not specifically illustrated, a matching footboard could be provided with an additional integral figure or figures without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant invention.

It is further pointed out that another important aspect of the present invention besides enabling the fig ure portion 14 of the headboard to be readily attached for assembly purposes, further permits the figure portion to be readily replaced if desired. It is further understood that the present invention contemplates that the figure portion 14 could be provided separately as an article of commerce for attachment to a pre existing headboard without departing from the intent and purcover in the upper portion thereof; and said cover having a lower portion affixed to the upper portion of said main portion of the headboard thereby extending upwardly therefrom in a flexible and resiliently deflectable relationship thereto.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one side of said cover is provided with simulated facial features such as eyes, nose and mouth.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover is provided with skirt means about the lower portion thereof for covering the portion of said cover attached to said main portion of the headboard.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cover is provided with skirt means about the lower portion thereof for covering the portion of said cover attached to said main portion of the headboard.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said skirt means is formed to simulate a shirt collar.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said skirt means is formed to simulate a shirt collar.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the main portion of the headboard is covered with the same material as that which said cover is comprised of. 

1. A headboard including a pair of spaced vertical legs and a rigid horizontal plane member bridging said legs and defining the main portion of the headboard, in combination with a figure member comprising: a non-rigid cover having at least one opened end; a resilient and flexible stuffing contained within said cover in the upper portion thereof; and said cover having a lower portion affixed to the upper portion of said main portion of the headboard thereby extending upwardly therefrom in a flexible and resiliently deflectable relationship thereto.
 2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one side of said cover is provided with simulated facial features such as eyes, nose and mouth.
 3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover is provided with skirt means about the lower portion thereof for covering the portion of said cover attached to said main portion of the headboard.
 4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cover is provided with skirt means about the lower portion thereof for covering the portion of said cover attached to said main portion of the headboard.
 5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said skirt means is formed to simulate a shirt collar.
 6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said skirt means is formed to simulate a shirt collar.
 7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the main portion of the headboard is covered with the same material as that which said cover is comprised of. 